Toyota Joins Volvo and Daimler in Hydrogen Fuel Cell Venture
Written By: Kailash Jha
Published: April 5, 2026 at 04:48 PM
Updated: April 5, 2026 at 04:48 PM
Toyota Motor Corporation has signed a non-binding agreement to become an equal partner in Cellcentric, the hydrogen fuel cell joint venture currently owned equally by Volvo Group and Daimler Truck AG. If the deal closes, Cellcentric will become a three-way venture with equal shareholding across all three companies, with Toyota funding its entry through a capital investment.
The partnership focuses on developing, producing, and commercially selling hydrogen fuel cell systems tailored for heavy-duty vehicles and applications demanding similar energy levels.
What Toyota Brings to the Table
Toyota has been developing hydrogen fuel cell technology since the 1990s, launching the Mirai fuel cell passenger car in 2014. The second-generation Mirai (launched in 2020) generates up to 182bhp from its fuel cell stack while producing only water as a byproduct.
Toyota has also been testing heavy-duty fuel cell trucks, including a 25-tonne semi in collaboration with Hino Motors in Japan, and has run commercial pilots in California with Kenworth.
Specific Collaboration
The collaboration between Toyota and Cellcentric will center on fuel cell unit cells, the core component of every fuel cell system. Both companies will jointly manage development and production of these cells, along with their architecture and control systems. This is the most technically complex part of fuel cell manufacturing, making this partnership a strategic fit.
Why Hydrogen for Trucks?
Hydrogen fuel cell technology offers significant advantages for long-haul commercial vehicles:
- Refueling Time: Refuelling takes minutes, matching the operational patterns of diesel trucks.
- Range: Prototypes have demonstrated ranges exceeding 1,000km per fill.
- Weight: Unlike battery electric trucks, hydrogen fuel cell systems do not add significant weight to the vehicle.